Southborough's Special Allotment

A community allotment garden and wellness project in Southborough has benefited from £18,000 of National Lottery funding through its Community Fund.

The community allotment garden is at the Ridgewaye allotments and is aimed at helping people with additional needs.

The Lottery funding has allowed the site to be massively upgraded over the past six months. Raised beds and a fully accessible path have been built. And there's now a composting toilet on site.

It's the work of the Friends of Ridgewaye Allotments, led by Verity Timms (pictured below).

Verity Timms applied successfully for the Lottery Funding and - at an event on Sunday 22nd June 2025 - she thanked everyone involved.

She spoke to West Kent Radio about how she'd been inspired to overhaul the original community plot.  Listen here:

Verity Timms said: "I've had an allotment here myself for over three years now. And every Tuesday, I'd walk through with my little dog and I would see a group here sitting on the allotments of special needs adults gardening." 

Verity continued: "The couple that ran that group - Mary and Ian - were in their eighties and finding it increasingly difficult to keep on top of the allotment - given that there were no facilities, no raised beds.  Everything was really hard for them to do and keep up with.  And over the years I started to think well - wouldn't it be great if we could bring the garden up to a really good modern standard." 

From visiting other allotments in Kent, Verity heard about the potential for National Lottery funding.  On learning her funding application was successful last December, Verity said: "I was over the moon...I couldn't believe it. Everyone was staggered that we got it...so happy."

A party held by allotment holders with minced pies was held last December (shown below) to celebrate the news that the £18,313 had been awarded in full.

You can watch Verity's speech in June to thank everyone involved here:
https://youtu.be/R6zagfu5eqQ

Verity explained that the community allotment garden is aimed at Southborough residents with additional needs, mobility issues, mental health issues or who simply need a supported environment to be able to garden.

Verity said: "We've also integrated a wellness site with a bog garden (shown below) so that we can start to think about the ecology on our site as well - and incorporate that to the community groups that may visit the site."

At the June gathering, Shelley explained how pleased she was to have recently taken on one of the beds in the community allotment garden.  She said: "It's the best thing I've ever done. They are very right that nature is good for mental health."

Shelley continued: "You exercise, you meet lovely people. You learn so much about growing vegetables and flowers. It's 100% amazing."

Mary (pictured below) started the community allotment originally with her husband, Ian.  She told West Kent Radio how she had welcomed patients sent by the St Andrew's doctor's surgery.  

Mary said: "We had quite a range of people. We took people from the surgery. Sometimes it was all they needed. Just something to do in the fresh air and meet people".

Mary recalled: "We used to have a long coffee break around 11.00. That was what they needed more than growing the vegetables and flowers.  They needed to talk to somebody and they relaxed and had a hobby. 

Mary concluded: "I'm amazed what Verity has done in this garden. She really has improved on it an awful lot."

Verity selected local Southborough firm, Granferns Landscaping, to work out the costings for her plan and to then deliver the project build.

Verity said: "Owner Tim Wickens (pictured below with Verity) got fully onboard with the community aspect of the project and was able to negotiate savings on materials meaning that even more could be done".

For further information you can email:
friendsofridgewayeallotments@gmail.com

On Facebook the group's page is:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Friends-of-Ridgewaye-Allotments/61573982264355/

Or follow on Instagram @friendsofridgewayeallotments